My dad bought several used Vegas since you could by them so cheap. The problem with the engine was that that the aluminum engine block would wear due to the steel rings. My dad would bore them out and put steel sleeves in the block, I think the sleeves were for a Ford tractor. With a Saginaw transmission and a decent rear end, they were decent cars. I put over 100k on mine and then gave it to my sister. We had at least 5 of them.
The only Vegas left have been converted to Buick V6s or small block Chevys for racing. I knew someone who took a Vega and ripped out the inner wheel wells and stuffed a 427 big block in it, beefed up the suspension and brakes and put 6ft wheelie bars in the back. There’s a few Lotus Cosworth Vegas, with the 16 cylinder head and fuel injection, high tech for the time.
The only Vegas left have been converted to Buick V6s or small block Chevys for racing. I knew someone who took a Vega and ripped out the inner wheel wells and stuffed a 427 big block in it, beefed up the suspension and brakes and put 6ft wheelie bars in the back. There’s a few Lotus Cosworth Vegas, with the 16 cylinder head and fuel injection, high tech for the time.